City College men’s soccer team beat the Pierce College Brahmas at La Playa Stadium on Oct. 22 with a shutout score of 2-0.
“A win is a win in conference,” Coach Alex Zermeno said.
The Vaqueros kicked off to start the game and both teams quickly began to communicate.
Two minutes into the first half a Brahmas forward crossed the ball, but Vaqueros goalkeeper Miles Keane came out of the goal to jump and catch the ball to stop the Brahmas from scoring.
City College started out slow, but had more possession at the beginning of the half. When the Vaqueros got the ball, the Brahmas defense continuously attempted to push them offside.
The Brahmas tried to make multiple shots from the 20-yard line throughout the first half, but they were unsuccessful as the ball would go over the goal post every time.
Toward the middle of the first half the Vaqueros and Brahmas battled to try and make the first goal of the game.
After multiple crosses made by forward Payton Rodgers, one finally connected to forward Mario David Vega with 16 minutes left in the first half. The crowd erupted in cheers when Vega scored making the score 1-0.
Towards the end of the first half the game became aggressive, with the Brahmas attempting to score, and the Vaqueros defense shutting them out.
After an equal amount of possession from both teams, the first half ended and the score remained 1-0.
“It was a sloppy performance from us. I feel like we should’ve scored maybe six to seven goals, but we have to be better in the final third [of conference],” Zermeno said.
The Brahmas kicked off to start the second half. They would continue to gain possession from City College and shoot the ball from a distance, but Keane would make the catch or block.
Despite the Brahmas gaining possession and attempting to score, the Vaqueros defense didn’t allow anything past them.
Toward the middle of the second half the Vaqueros began to gain more possession and shoot multiple goals, but they weren’t able to follow through.
Zermeno said the team will work on finishing their shots, hoping this helps them to score more goals.
Both teams continued to battle and be aggressive with one another leading to some yellow cards being given out.
The Brahmas became too aggressive when a Brahmas defender fouled midfielder Jose Jr Rubio in the box with about two minutes left in the game.
This foul led to a penalty kick and midfielder Gustavo Loera-Cardenas would take it. Loera-Cardenas made the penalty kick, securing the Vaqueros to win another conference game.
“It was a relief [scoring] because I missed a couple chances already,” Loera-Cardenas said, “I had to settle the game off and close it off.”
Loera-Cardenas added he feels the team did pretty good, but says the team wasn’t using their chances early on in the game. With Loera-Cardenas penalty kick the game ended with a shutout 2-0.
After the team tied Oxnard College in their last game Zermeno says this win puts them tied for first in conference.
“Getting this win helps us even more,” Zermeno said.
City College men’s soccer team will have their next conference game at Moorpark College on Oct. 25.
